A key element of IDRA’s Education CAFE model is that members choose a project for their group to focus on in order to affect education in their community’s schools. Educators have access to very large amounts of information and can organize it in many ways. Yet, we know the importance of being attuned to what is happening and what is of concern to families – concerned to the point of them wanting to act, as a community, to change something, solve a problem or throw more light on an issue.
IDRA’s family leadership approach, as seen in our Education CAFE work and our school change model, the Quality Schools Action Framework, gives actionable data and information a prominent role. Data are important but only to serve the interest and drive of the families to have excellent schools for all children.
Our experience with families and communities also informs our processes. We have seen countless attempts by school officials to dump data at parent meetings without first listening to what parents are most concerned about. To simply present data, no matter how critical and important we might consider it, without being attentive to the participants’ interests, is to misunderstand what being “data driven” means. In the vast information databases collected by federal and state agencies and others, we must mine for what is relevant and current.
The community project selected by the group is constructed as we bridge the data with families’ concerns and interests. The data that drives family leadership in education projects must resonate with the families and be a catalyst for action.
Education decisions should be driven by strong data and research that comes from communities that are directly impacted by those decisions. Students and families have the power to inform education leaders by producing their own research and data. Being closest to the classroom experience gives students and families the best access to individuals involved with education whether that be other students or their teachers and administrators. By asking the right questions, students and their families are able to give insight to the issues that are most important for their success in school.
Data (another word for information) is generally collected in two ways. Data is collected by either examining the numbers associated with a certain issue (quantitative approach) or by talking with individuals about a certain issue and analyzing what they say(qualitative approach). Both of these methods require investigators to examine the information that they collect and identify trends and connections within the information. By combining the data with analysis, students and families can produce their own research.
Collecting your own data through surveys
Students and families are incredibly effective when they perform their own research and present this information to decisionmakers. Find out more about how IDRA supported students to perform their research in these examples:
Research and data can also be combined into usable graphs and representations called data dashboards. These let students and families find out information about their own schools and neighborhoods. For example, see IDRA’s data dashboards.
MASISTA: Mexican Americana Studies Independent Students Taking Action. This is a place for middle and high school students who want to support and advocate for Mexican American Studies and other ethnic studies. (for ages 13 and up)
The Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition (TLEEC) is a collaborative of organizations and individuals with the mission to improve the quality of public education for all children, with a focus on racial equity. We advocate for fair funding, teaching quality, high-quality curriculum and instructional practices, quality bilingual education for English
This group is dedicated to building culturally-sustaining schools across the South. Connect to find information, share resources, and get support from advocates across the region. We support each other to defend against attacks on culturally-sustaining schools and to promote a positive vision for what culturally-sustaining schools can be across the
IDRA is creating a hub of resources for educators, families and policy advocates to support those who want to promote culturally-sustaining schools and fight harmful classroom censorship policies. While the site is in development, we are sharing resources here.
The Georgia Coalition for Education Justice is a collective of students, educators, parents and advocates dedicated to advancing education justice for all children across the state. We intentionally work to bring together diverse organizations and individuals that are directly impacted by education inequity and our work to coordinate advocacy at
Advocates of all ages are fighting against book bans and threats to ensure students have access to diverse and inclusive books.
The Georgia Coalition for Education Justice is a collective of students, educators, parents and advocates dedicated to advancing education justice for all children across the state. We intentionally work to bring together diverse organizations and individuals that are directly impacted by education inequity and our work to coordinate advocacy at
IDRA is creating a hub of resources for educators, families and policy advocates to support those who want to promote culturally-sustaining schools and fight harmful classroom censorship policies. While the site is in development, we are sharing resources here.
This group is dedicated to building culturally-sustaining schools across the South. Connect to find information, share resources, and get support from advocates across the region. We support each other to defend against attacks on culturally-sustaining schools and to promote a positive vision for what culturally-sustaining schools can be across the
The Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition (TLEEC) is a collaborative of organizations and individuals with the mission to improve the quality of public education for all children, with a focus on racial equity. We advocate for fair funding, teaching quality, high-quality curriculum and instructional practices, quality bilingual education for English
MASISTA: Mexican Americana Studies Independent Students Taking Action. This is a place for middle and high school students who want to support and advocate for Mexican American Studies and other ethnic studies. (for ages 13 and up)
Advocates of all ages are fighting against book bans and threats to ensure students have access to diverse and inclusive books.
An Education CAFÉ is a family group rooted in a community-based organization, rather than in a single school. Its sole purpose is to collaborate with schools to improve the success of students in the community.
IDRA and Allies File Amicus Brief Supporting Students Deprived of Education Due to Hair Length (Houston, December 5, 2024) Today, a multiracial, intergenerational coalition of
